hello all,

I need your help:)

I've just found out about the magic of "custom maps" in portal, but I cant seem to get them to work. I try to access them in the "import mapS" section of the game, but that takes me to some strange file search format that does'nt take me to were I save my fiels, and when I save them to something that does show up, THEY DONT. I'm at a loss and I need your help.

if it helps you help me, the same thing happens when I try to use sprays in tf2.

Thank you, you are a wonderous creature.

though, if you spend enough time here you will find these answers i will give you the short/fast version,
firstly: Most mappers do (or atleast should) explain in their download archive (or on their download page) of how to install it. so always check the readme.txt (if one is present)

but basically "most" maps are comprised of "one" file that ends in .bsp simply find your portals map folder, in most cases that would be something like
C:\Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\YOUR-STEAM-ID\portal\portal\maps
and basically in "most" cases you can put that .bsp in this folder, then from inside portal open the console (using the tilde ~ key) (its the left of the 1 key) and type "map %MAPNAMEHERE%"
where %MAPNAMEHERE% is the name of the .bsp you just got done copying to your /maps folder... luckily the console will try to help you by showing you other map names "close" to what you are typing...

anyway this is NOT a fix all way to install maps. cuz ALOT of maps have custom files, specific directories. and such. but this should be enough to get you started, and go browse through the forums. and you'll get the hang of things soon

I get to program files, but theirs no steam folder.

also, what if you downloaded the map from a zipper file?

Where did you install Steam to? On my system it's c:\game\valve\steam\steamapps. For most people it's c:\program files\valve\steam\steamapps.

I found the portal files "startup menu/steam/username/portal/portal" I still save it their, but they dont show up. I have both the zipper file and the bps but its not working. "note the zipper file is compressed, I dont really know what that means"

also "if it helps" In the search it says its looking for BMZ "bonous map zipper"

Welcome to TWP.

When you click the Import Bonus Maps button, the game looks for files that end with BMZ. I won't get in to the technical details, but most maps are not distributed as a BMZ, but instead as a ZIP.

Windows can open these ZIPs like just another folder, so what you have to do is drag and drop the files in the ZIP into the right place in your Portal game folder. The trick is finding the right place.

The best advice I can give you here is to poke around your Steam\Steamapps\[email protected]\portal\portal ( I want to say) and look for the right place. For example, inside the second portal folder, there should be a number of folders, among them one called "maps". If the zip has a "maps" folder in it, you should just be able to drag and drop into there.

Basically, poke around and see what you find.

Welcome, and good luck.

it............it works.......

IT WORKS!!!!!!

Thank you thank you thank you!!!

all of you are mighty worriors of the internet.!!!

thank you!!!

Easy there Fido.

### I AM A MIGHTY WORRIOR!

does this mean i worry alot? :-/

Yup!